The Crutch Bag Project – The PDF Files

I know it has been a year since I made (and used) my crutch bag but I have had some requests for the pattern that I used, for all you who waited patiently, this post is for you!

The following are three pdf files, each file is a different pattern piece for the crutch bag. I do apologize however, for the life of me I could not figure out how to make this one file!

Here are the files:

The Front and Back Pattern Piece

The Side Panel Pattern Piece

The Outside Pocket

When printing these you’ll need to print without scaling or print actual size.

You can use these pattern pieces and follow along with the entire Crutch Bag Project Posts to make your own until I can figure out how to make all of the instructions and the pattern into one pdf. (Please, if anyone has insight on the best program for that please let me know!)

This pattern is intended for use by anyone who may ever need to rely on crutches and is not intended for production manufacturing. It is my gift to you, the injured or disabled, in the hopes that your life may somehow be better, and a little more independent!

Enjoy!

~Cathy

The Crutch Bag Project – The Edge Binding and Reveal!

Wow! I really love my new crutch bag!She’s all finished and currently ready to go to work for me!

The last step in the process of making this bag was to attach the bias binding around the raw seam edges. I added a little loop and button to the top of the bag as well. That treatment should help keep the top of the bag from gaping open too much.

Here’s how I did it…

I cut a bias from more of Bari J.’s collection of fabrics, attach the ends together to make one long piece… And pin the bias to the raw edges. I sew on the 1/4″ seam line…Turn and top stitch. On this green edge I used a straight stitch. In my mind I’m much better at this than in real life so for the top edge…I used another color and decided to Zig Zag the top stitching!But first sewed on a wee little button loop to help pull the top closed…There, now you can see the zig zag along the top. Much much better!!!! A very good cover up for poor top stitching!!And here she is during her photo shoot…

Wooo Hooo!

Now guess what I did this morning?

Ready?

I practiced

and

practiced

and practiced…and practiced some more to get my nerve up to Machine Quilt the Carolina Christmas quilt I started quilting last summer by hand!!!! Remember that project? It just sat and sat and sat and I seriously don’t think I can quilt it by hand…I want it NOW!!!

And since the couch is on hiatus from it’s slipcover project…I have room!!! (please…don’t look too closely at my mess…)

Yay!!!! Wheeee!

It’s going to happen people! I’m going for it!

…more to come…

~Cathy

The Crutch Bag Project – Attaching The Straps

Now all I need to do is attach the straps to the bag!

This next decision was one I mulled over a while. Since I’m going to put the straps into the seam and then bind the edges with bias tape (oh…forgot to tell you that I made that decision) I want to trim down this seam allowance from 1/2″ to 1/4″. I’m just eye-balling it, trying to center my scissors in the middle.

Then I sew on all of the straps.

Two sets of the hook and loop straps are sewn into the side seams at the point where the sides curve (just a little above the curve).And the other two sets I sew about 2 inches down from the top edge…I stitch over the raw edge on the long straps that will go around the crutch handle…And look through my collection of ancient hardware (Grandma Noll) to find these very Bari J. inspired jewel encrusted antique belt loop buckles! How Fun!I weave the straps through the buckles, around the crutch handles and back down through the buckles again and…OH my Gosh!!! I am almost finished with my crutch bag!Just need to attach the bias binding and figure out the top opening…the bag even holds water! Whoo Hoo!

Stay tuned!

~Cathy

The Crutch Bag Project – Fabricating The Straps

Next up on this project are the straps. Just how am I going to strap this bag to the crutch?

I played around with a few ideas, pinning, re-locating, velcro-ing and even sewed a version for the bottom/side stabilizer strap below…That was test one. I had only sewed it in the middle and not only was it very difficult to get in the machine (because I had already sewn up the sides) but as it would turn out, this strap was not very stable at all. Conclusion; go with plan B, which would be to sew the straps into the side seams.

So here’s how this came together…

I sewed the bottom together using a 1/4″ seam allowance. I stitched just between the edges. I’m a little over on the rights side as you can see, but that was easily picked out.Then I clipped out a little ‘postage stamp’ from the bottom side seam allowances. This will remove bulk for the next step.

Next…I turn the bag inside out and sew along the bottom again, just in between the side seam lines. That’s very important as I don’t want to catch the side seams!

In addition, this stitching needs to be wide enough to enclose the raw edge, about 1/4″. With your fingers you can feel the width of the fabric. Trim it if it is wider than 1/4″, as the initial seam allowance was only a total of 1/2″.Alrighty then…next I turn the bag right side out to check. Good! The seam is enclosed.I cut and sew up two pieces of fabric 2″ wide by 22″ long (roughly, this is the length of the fat quarter). I just clip and rip… Then fold in half and sew a scant 1/4″ seam.I use the Fast Turn to turn this strap inside out…
Pressing the seam open…then…Folding and pressing so the seam is lined up with the edge…I edge stitch along the edges and then cut one of these into 8 equal sections and one of them in half. I attach velcro (excuse me…hook and loop tape) to the sections (2 of these are already attached to the bag so not in the picture above). On two of the Fuzzy sections (the LOOP side) I sandwich in between the strap and the loop tape the other LONG strap like so…And sew the three pieces together like so…The remaining straps just get the tape sewn down…There’s more to come! Next I’ll show you how I attached these straps to the bag! I’m almost there!

Stay tuned!

~Cathy

The Crutch Bag Project – Adding An Outside Pocket

Before I sew up the other side panel I was thinking about adding an outside pocket. I don’t want to think too much here, just add on a quickie patch pocket to see how it will work.

First I make a pattern and add on 1/2″ seam allowance.

Then I fussy cut out a little birdie from another Bari J. fabric from her Full Bloom line. I put the bird in the upper left third of the pocket instead of square in the middle…a little design lesson I learned in art class. Something about a pleasing composition or what not. But I think if the bird was in the middle would look just fine too!

I baste stitch along the 1/2″ seam allowance. This will give me a marker for folding and pressing. This is a little trick that Mom taught me a long, long, time ago!

Fold and press along the outer edges. Bottom first then the sides.

Next, fold down the top and sew the edges right sides together. I am folding down a few inches (what looked good to me) and clip the corners like so…

This will help eliminate some of the bulk when you turn it right side out…then turn right side out, press and stitch this flap down. I used two lines of stitching like so…

Next, pin and stitch the pocket to the front of the bag. I eye balled a location that looked good to me.

Be sure to back stitch a few times at the beginning and end along the top of the pocket. This should be sufficient to keep it from pulling off during heavy use.Then I sewed on the other side panel…and could have the crutch do it’s first fitting!

I think it might be a little bit too wide…just a smidge but won’t know for sure until I get the water bottle put in. The bag will expand outward as it compensates for the curve of the bottle. I also see that I might want to trim down the seam allowances if I opt for a bound edge.

Both Jim and Mom sent me some links to a few sites that sell crutch bags. This one shows a water bottle on the outside of the bag in it’s own pouch and this one has a video demonstrating how the strap is attached. Next is to figure out the strap…so some great inspiration here! Thanks Jim, Thanks Mom!

Stay tuned!

~Cathy

The Crutch Bag Project – Sewing Up the Side Panels

I left off yesterday with the side panel pattern made and selecting a coordinate fabric.

Next, I layer up another quilt sandwich just like I did for the Front and Back.Pin the sandwich in place and then free motion quilt it together.This quilting thing is getting easier! Next, I cut out the two side panel pieces.And sew one side together. I am sewing these wrong sides together. My thought is to either bind the edges with a bias strip or I could try a French seam if that didn’t work out. Still thinking…So tomorrow I’ll work out the seam finish. I’ll probably go with binding but do it by machine. I also need to figure out a placement for the straps that will hold the bag to the crutch.

Stay tuned!

~Cathy

The Crutch Bag Project – Some Side Panels?

Now that the Front and the Back are cut out I ponder whether or not I need to add in a side panel. My instinct is telling me to do it but I’m not so sure. I don’t have enough bag experience to unequivocally say to myself “yes…you need a side panel…” but I have made a number of tote bags…and own another number of those Green grocery bags that get picked up every now and then. Those seem to have a side panel, at least the ones that open out wide enough to actually allow groceries into them!

And now that I think about the paper bag, I guess that has a little side panel folded in too. But I don’t need it to go all the way down do I? I’m thinking that the opening would be the most important. I can’t have it just straight across the top with no give, a water bottle certainly would not have enough room.

I roughly gauge the width of a side panel by holding it up against the crutch.

Then draw out the pattern. Since I’m thinking I want to taper in the side panels I rough that in as well.

Fold the pattern in half to make sure each side is the same, check it against the front/back pattern piece And cut the pattern out.I like this pink coordinate fabric. It is another Bari J. from the Full Bloom collection.

Tomorrow I’ll quilt this fabric and sew up these sides to check the fit.

~Cathy

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